Dist. 300 policy to prevent 'pay-to-play' a no go

The Community Unit District 300 school board defeated a measure Monday night designed to prevent potential conflicts of interest in the district's bidding and purchasing process.

The policy would have barred District 300 from doing more than $5,000 in business with a firm that has contributed to a school board campaign in the past two years.

The measure was soundly defeated, with only two board members, Monica Clark and policy author John Ryan, voting for the policy.

But Monday's vote might not have been the death knell for the policy. A majority of board members said they support such a policy but not in its present form.

"I do think that something along these lines is not objectionable," board member Anne Miller said. "But there are some issues in my mind about the wording."

Board member Chris Stanton also said he supported the policy but didn't think it was enforceable in its current form.

"I don't have a problem with this kind of policy," Stanton said. "I'm still not convinced the policing of it can be done adequately."

If the policy were revised to address these concerns, it could pass with the support of Ryan, Clark, Miller and Stanton. Ryan said Monday he was willing to revisit the policy.

But two board members, Mary Warren and Karen Roeckner, indicated they probably would not vote for the measure, even with revisions.

"This type of policy is hampering the business of the district," Warren said, noting that the district already has issues receiving enough bids. "I think this is absolutely unnecessary."

Roeckner agreed.

"We have never had this problem in our district," Roeckner said. "I will still vote no."

Board President Joe Stevens echoed Warren's and Roeckner's concerns earlier Monday.

"It's fine for vendors to contribute to referendum campaigns," Stevens said. "I have not seen any evidence of 'pay-to-play.'"

But Ryan said the policy was intended to prevent future conflicts of interest -- not to punish vendors who helped election rivals.

"This is an opportunity to be proactive," Ryan said. "To simply say, 'we haven't had that problem' is not a reason not to have this policy."